Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) reacts after giving up four goals during the second period to the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on Friday.

Written by

Kevin Allen
| USA TODAY

Halley's Comet could come and go a dozen times before we see another NHL team launch a season with points in 24 consecutive games.

The universe's most famous comet buzzes Earth every 75 or 76 years, and probability shows that the Chicago Blackhawks' 21-0-3 start was a 1-in-1,000 season occurrence. When the Colorado Avalanche defeated Chicago 6-2 Friday night in Denver, it ended one of the most fascinating streaks in NHL history.

Dating to last season, the Blackhawks had not lost a game in regulation since March 25. That 30-game streak is the league's second longest behind the Philadelphia ...